[sankofalist]The Source Magazine hit with sexual harassment suit - www.hiphopgame.com
Will Feagins
will@mwcreativegroup.com
Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:57:57 -0400
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C53EC8.63A24F50
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Benzino Hit with Sexual Harrassment Lawsuit after Resigning from The
Source
A few days after resigning from his positionas The Source magazine's
chief brand executive, Benzino has been accused (along with David Mays,
co-owner of the magazine) of 'committing gender discrimination, sexual
harassment and unlawful retaliation against women,' MTV.com's Chris
Harris reports.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all current and former female
employees of the magazine by former editor in chief Kimberly Osorio and
former vice president of marketing Michelle Joyce.
Benzino stated last week that he was resigning because he wanted to
create another magazine.
Check out all the details regarding the lawsuit:
'Earlier today, two of the highest-ranking former female executives of
The Source magazine, the self-proclaimed "Bible of Hip Hop," filed
charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission accusing co-owners David Mays, the Chief Executive Officer,
and Raymond "Benzino" Scott, the Chief Brand Executive, of committing
gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation
against women at the Company. The charges were filed by Kimberly Osorio,
who was the first female Editor-in-Chief of The Source, and Michelle
Joyce, who was the Vice President of Marketing. According to the
charges, female employees were consistently discriminated against on the
basis of their gender in favor of male employees, particularly with
respect to hiring, promotions, compensation and benefits, working hours
and discipline. The charges also allege that: * Raymond "Benzino" Scott
has taken virtually complete control over The Source from David Mays,
and has placed many of his male associates from Boston on the payroll
who performed no meaningful work and/or did not adhere to the same
rules, policies and procedures that all female employees were required
to follow.
* Scott and Mays have fired or forced out of the Company without cause
many competent, dedicated and hardworking female employees and have
replaced them with men.
* David Mays yelled and cursed at female executives at The Source,
whereas he would not treat or talk to comparable male employees in such
a manner.
* Scott and Mays allowed another male employee to openly utter
profanities at Ms. Osorio, degrade her and threaten her with physical
violence without being punished for his actions.
* Women at The Source were repeatedly subjected to degrading acts of
sexual harassment.
* The sexual harassment was so severe and pervasive that the former
Managing Editor at The Source would often hide in her office and avoid
walking through the corridors out of fear of being sexually harassed.
* The Source engaged in a gender-based smear campaign against Hot 97
radio personality and recording artist Angie Martinez.
"After dedicating five years to The Source, I could no longer endure the
blatant gender discrimination and harassment so I spoke up, but it only
hurt the situation because I was fired shortly thereafter.
Unfortunately, discrimination and harassment in the workplace is very
common and now I must speak out for all women who have been victims of
this same type of treatment," said Ms. Osorio. "I chose to take a stand
for women of the Hip Hop generation and for all women who quietly endure
such treatment for fear of retaliation and for those women who have
suffered in silence and quietly surrendered," said Ms. Joyce. "Ms.
Osorio and Ms. Joyce have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward,
and we will fully vindicate their rights at trial," said Kenneth P.
Thompson, their attorney and a former Federal Prosecutor who prosecuted
the Abner Louima federal civil rights case. "All women should be treated
fairly and with the utmost respect whether they are in the world of Hip
Hop or not and we will prove that in this case," said Thompson.
According to the charges, both Ms. Osorio and Ms. Joyce complained about
the discriminatory treatment against women at The Source, all to no
avail. Instead of taking prompt action to end the discrimination, they
allege that Messrs. Scott and Mays unlawfully terminated them despite
their outstanding work performance. In fact, Ms. Osorio alleges that she
was fired shortly after she refused to give in to Scott's and Mays'
repeated demands that she rescind an email that she sent to Human
Resources complaining about the unlawful conduct.'
William Feagins, Jr.
High Impact Designs
P.O. Box 17254
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
tel1: (412) 970-0000
tel2: (877) 217-1067
fax: (412) 242-8153
text message: 4129700000@page.metrocall.com
www.highimpact-designs.com
www.michellekmassie.com
Underground Talent United
"Gaining Economic Independence Through Unified Effort"
http://www.undergroundtalentunited.com
Deep Within Us All
"Spoken Word, Spoken Differently." Deep Within Us All is a poetic
wake-up call for today's society. Written and produced by W. Feagins,
Jr. (Phate) and published by Pneuma Publishing International.
www.deepwithinusall.com
For all of your web hosting needs visit: www.highimpact.hostway.com
------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C53EC8.63A24F50
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<html xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
xmlns:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<meta name=3DProgId content=3DWord.Document>
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10">
<meta name=3DOriginator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10">
<link rel=3DFile-List href=3D"cid:filelist.xml@01C53EC8.5F52F260">
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"PostalCode"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"State"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"City"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"place"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"Street"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name=3D"address"/>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:SpellingState>Clean</w:SpellingState>
<w:GrammarState>Clean</w:GrammarState>
<w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
<w:EnvelopeVis/>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */=20
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dpurple =
style=3D'tab-interval:.5in'>
<div class=3DSection1>
<div align=3Dcenter>
<table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 cellpadding=3D0
style=3D'mso-cellspacing:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<tr height=3D11 style=3D'mso-yfti-irow:0;height:8.6pt'>
<td rowspan=3D2 bgcolor=3D"#043A56" =
style=3D'background:#043A56;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;
height:8.6pt'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dwhite =
face=3DVerdana><span
=
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;=
color:white;font-weight:bold'>Benzino Hit with Sexual Harrassment =
Lawsuit
after Resigning from The Source</span></font></b><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>
</td>
<![if !supportMisalignedRows]>
<td style=3D'height:8.6pt;border:none' width=3D0 height=3D11></td>
<![endif]>
</tr>
<tr height=3D11 style=3D'mso-yfti-irow:1;height:8.6pt'>
<![if !supportMisalignedRows]>
<td style=3D'height:8.6pt;border:none' width=3D0 height=3D11></td>
<![endif]>
</tr>
<tr style=3D'mso-yfti-irow:2;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'>
<td width=3D"95%" bgcolor=3Dwhite =
style=3D'width:95.0%;background:white;padding:
0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black'>A few days after =
resigning
from his positionas The Source magazine's chief brand executive, =
Benzino has
been accused (along with David Mays, co-owner of the magazine) of =
'committing
gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation =
against
women,' MTV.com's Chris Harris reports.<br>
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all current and former female =
employees of
the magazine by former editor in chief Kimberly Osorio and former vice
president of marketing Michelle Joyce.<br>
Benzino stated last week that he was resigning because he wanted to =
create
another magazine.<br>
<br>
Check out all the details regarding the lawsuit:<br>
<br>
'Earlier today, two of the highest-ranking former female executives of =
The
Source magazine, the self-proclaimed "Bible of Hip Hop," =
filed
charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity =
Commission
accusing co-owners David Mays, the Chief Executive Officer, and =
Raymond "Benzino"
Scott, the Chief Brand Executive, of committing gender discrimination, =
sexual
harassment and unlawful retaliation against women at the Company. The =
charges
were filed by Kimberly Osorio, who was the first female =
Editor-in-Chief of
The Source, and Michelle Joyce, who was the Vice President of =
Marketing.
According to the charges, female employees were consistently =
discriminated
against on the basis of their gender in favor of male employees, =
particularly
with respect to hiring, promotions, compensation and benefits, working =
hours
and discipline. The charges also allege that: * Raymond =
"Benzino"
Scott has taken virtually complete control over The Source from David =
Mays,
and has placed many of his male associates from Boston on the payroll =
who
performed no meaningful work and/or did not adhere to the same rules,
policies and procedures that all female employees were required to =
follow.<br>
<br>
* Scott and Mays have fired or forced out of the Company without cause =
many
competent, dedicated and hardworking female employees and have =
replaced them
with men.<br>
<br>
* David Mays yelled and cursed at female executives at The Source, =
whereas he
would not treat or talk to comparable male employees in such a =
manner.<br>
<br>
* Scott and Mays allowed another male employee to openly utter =
profanities at
Ms. Osorio, degrade her and threaten her with physical violence =
without being
punished for his actions.<br>
<br>
* Women at The Source were repeatedly subjected to degrading acts of =
sexual
harassment.<br>
<br>
* The sexual harassment was so severe and pervasive that the former =
Managing
Editor at The Source would often hide in her office and avoid walking =
through
the corridors out of fear of being sexually harassed.<br>
<br>
* The Source engaged in a gender-based smear campaign against Hot 97 =
radio
personality and recording artist Angie Martinez.<br>
<br>
"After dedicating five years to The Source, I could no longer =
endure the
blatant gender discrimination and harassment so I spoke up, but it =
only hurt
the situation because I was fired shortly thereafter. Unfortunately,
discrimination and harassment in the workplace is very common and now =
I must
speak out for all women who have been victims of this same type of
treatment," said Ms. Osorio. "I chose to take a stand for =
women of
the Hip Hop generation and for all women who quietly endure such =
treatment
for fear of retaliation and for those women who have suffered in =
silence and
quietly surrendered," said Ms. Joyce. "Ms. Osorio and Ms. =
Joyce
have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward, and we will fully
vindicate their rights at trial," said Kenneth P. Thompson, their
attorney and a former Federal Prosecutor who prosecuted the Abner =
Louima
federal civil rights case. "All women should be treated fairly =
and with
the utmost respect whether they are in the world of Hip Hop or not and =
we will
prove that in this case," said Thompson. According to the =
charges, both
Ms. Osorio and Ms. Joyce complained about the discriminatory treatment
against women at The Source, all to no avail. Instead of taking prompt =
action
to end the discrimination, they allege that Messrs. Scott and Mays =
unlawfully
terminated them despite their outstanding work performance. In fact, =
Ms.
Osorio alleges that she was fired shortly after she refused to give in =
to
Scott's and Mays' repeated demands that she rescind an email that she =
sent to
Human Resources complaining about the unlawful =
conduct.'</span></font><font
size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<![if !supportMisalignedRows]>
<td style=3D'border:none' width=3D0><p class=3D'MsoNormal'> </td>
<![endif]>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D4 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
13.5pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>William Feagins, =
Jr.</span></font></b></strong><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D4 color=3Dmaroon =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:maroon;mso-no-proof:yes=
'>High
Impact Designs</span></font></b></strong><font color=3Dmaroon><span
style=3D'color:maroon;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:address><st1:Street><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>P.O. =
Box</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:
yes'> 17254</span></font></st1:address><span =
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place><st1:City><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
=
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>Pittsburgh<=
/span></font></st1:City><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:
yes'>, </span></font><st1:State><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
=
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>PA</span></=
font></st1:State><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:
yes'> </span></font><st1:PostalCode><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
=
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>15235</span=
></font></st1:PostalCode></st1:place><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>tel1: (412) =
970-0000<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>tel2: (877) =
217-1067<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>fax: (412) =
242-8153<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>text message: =
4129700000@page.metrocall.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'><a =
href=3D"www.highimpact-designs.com">www.highimpact-designs.com</a><o:p></=
o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>www.michellekmassie.com<o:p></o:p></s=
pan></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
color=3Dmaroon face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:maroon;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;mso-no-proof:ye=
s'>Underground</span></font></b><b
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'> =
Talent <font
color=3Dgray><span =
style=3D'color:gray'>United</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>"Gaining Economic =
</span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:
yes'>Independence</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=3D1
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>
Through Unified Effort"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>http://www.undergroundtalentunited.co=
m<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
color=3D"#333399" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333399;font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;mso-no-proof:y=
es'>Deep
Within Us All<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><i style=3D'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font =
size=3D1
color=3Dgray face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:gray;font-style:italic;mso-bidi-font-style:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'=
>"Spoken
Word, Spoken Differently." </span></font></i><font size=3D1 =
color=3Dgray
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:gray;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Deep Within Us All is a poetic wake-up call for =
today's
society. Written and produced by W. Feagins, Jr. (Phate) and published =
by
Pneuma Publishing International.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 color=3Dgray face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:gray;mso-no-proof:yes'>www.deepwithinusall.=
com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><i style=3D'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font =
size=3D1
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic;
mso-bidi-font-style:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></fo=
nt></i></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><i style=3D'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font =
size=3D1
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic;
mso-bidi-font-style:normal;mso-no-proof:yes'>For all of your web hosting =
needs
visit: www.highimpact.hostway.com</span></font></i><span =
style=3D'mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
------=_NextPart_000_005C_01C53EC8.63A24F50--